The Conservative conference has experienced its first cabinet dispute as Kenneth Clarke mocked Theresa May shortly after she suggested an illegal immigrant resisted deportation on the grounds that he had a pet cat.

As the judiciary press office challenged the claim by the home secretary, Clarke said he would take a bet with May that nobody had used a cat to resist deportation.

The justice secretary told a fringe meeting organised by the Daily Telegraph: "I've never had a conversation on the subject with Theresa so I'd have to find out about these strange cases she is throwing out.